Tuesday, 17 September 2013

Life à la Française

As the rain hammers down on the misty Velux windows of my
new loft appartement, I reflect on
the vast changes that have been wrought on my life since I last updated my
blog. The past four months have past by in a blur of sun-baked London streets, whirring office air-con and
the dappled, blustery loveliness of a Cornish summer by the sea. And now this:
the tiny, rainy cobbled streets and cafes and restaurants of Liege, the somewhat unknown Belgian city that
is to be my home for the next nine months.

This summer has seen me run at speed between internships,
exam results and my year abroad, with snatched moments of summer bliss amid my
hectic schedule. If you’ve been following my Twitter feed, you will know that
my summer months have been marked out by three stark events: two dream internships
and a looming, potentially life-changing move away from the family and friends
that are so dear to me. Somewhat paradoxically, although I had two what-dreams-are-made-of internships as a fashion writer at both The Times and ELLE magazine, chances to update this blog and embark on personal projects have been few and far between; apart from a ridiculously exciting interview for
SID Magazine that will be coming out in the Autumn, this keyboard has never
been so inactive.

It seems obvious, but never before had I thought that change
could be so inspiring. I have blog posts and article ideas coming out of my
ears! There’s so much to say and describe about my electric summer, before it
gets lost amidst the freezing boulevards and sudden showers of this autumnal
city. And also, I have so much to say about Liege,
about Belgium,
and my hopes, fears and dreams for this year. There will be travelling, no
doubt, and new places and faces and languages to explore. A year spent
straddling the Channel, with feet firmly placed on both English and European
soil, will have all sorts of adventures to look forward to, at home and abroad.
À la prochaine!